Safia, an Afghan refugee, navigates the challenges of starting anew in Houston while pursuing her passion for childcare amidst the ongoing crisis in the industry.
Safia is one of the 50,500 Afghan refugees who have been admitted to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. This initiative was established by Congress to assist Afghans who worked for the U.S. government abroad. A college-educated math teacher, Safia is currently not licensed to teach in the United States. She has applied for a childcare training and licensing program at the ECDC – Houston Multicultural Center.
“In order to speed up this self-sufficiency goal, it takes everyone in the household working,” said Earlene Leverett, the former manager of the program. She added, “Employers are finally realizing the impact that childcare has on the economy. Businesses have jobs; they need employees to fill those jobs, and those employees need childcare.”
Safia’s family had a stable life in Afghanistan. She earned her college degree and taught math at an elementary school in Kabul, while her husband worked as an electrical engineer. They were raising three children and seemed to be thriving.
However, the situation changed dramatically when the Taliban regained control of the Afghan government in 2021. Safia’s husband, who had worked for 17 years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), found himself on a death list, putting the entire family at risk.
Eventually, Safia’s family found refuge in Houston. While they are safe, they face significant economic challenges. Attaining the necessary licensure to work in their respective fields in the United States will take years. Currently, her husband is employed in a lower-level position at an electronics company, while Safia has found only a low-paying job as a helper at a childcare center located far from their home. Without reliable transportation, her commute to work has become a significant obstacle.
“I worked one year in pre-K in Afghanistan,” Safia shared. “I love working with children.” She discovered a free childcare training and licensing class at the ECDC – Houston Multicultural Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting refugees and immigrants. Unfortunately, due to current funding requirements, the course is only available to Afghan refugees who arrived in the United States between 2021 and 2023. Safia, having arrived in 2024, is ineligible.
Earlene Leverett, who managed the ECDC childcare training program for a decade, has witnessed the transformative impact it can have, not only for refugees but also for the wider community. “Childcare is in crisis,” she stated. “Employers are finally realizing the impact that childcare has on the economy. Businesses have jobs; they need employees to fill those jobs, and those employees need childcare.”
During her tenure, Leverett estimates that 350 to 400 immigrants graduated from the one-year program. Many of these graduates have gone on to establish their own childcare businesses, creating essential options for parents who might otherwise struggle to find care. Most graduates have secured employment at existing daycare centers, which often face challenges in expanding due to staffing shortages.
Leverett emphasized the benefits of this program, stating that it is a win for everyone involved. Parents who are already at home with young children—most often mothers—can “add substantially to the household income.” This is particularly important for mothers who need to seek employment outside the home and may prefer childcare providers who share a similar cultural background. Employers, especially in sectors that heavily rely on immigrant labor, such as hospitality and healthcare, can access the workforce they need.
The U.S. government offers some financial assistance to refugees upon their arrival, but this support is short-lived. Nonprofits and other organizations step in to provide language classes and job training, with the goal of helping refugees achieve self-sufficiency within six months.
“In order to speed up this self-sufficiency goal, it takes everyone in the household working,” Leverett reiterated. “When there is no childcare available to the employees, it becomes a huge economic issue.”
Leverett has operated her own daycare centers in Texas for 16 years and noted that immigrants have always played a significant role in the childcare industry as employees.
Providing training for refugees like Safia to obtain childcare licenses has proven effective, according to Leverett. “We saw the difference it made in the community. Employment was one of the key needs,” she said.
Currently, Safia is focused on improving her English skills and finding an affordable program that will enable her to obtain a license to open her own childcare facility. “I like children; I’m patient with children,” she expressed. “I really want to improve in this field and work with children.”
As the childcare crisis continues to unfold, the stories of refugees like Safia highlight the urgent need for accessible training and support systems that can help them rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.
According to Source Name.